Unemployment Insurance: Identity Verification

For your protection, Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) uses data provided by LexisNexis® Risk Solutions to help verify and validate your identity. Such data may include public records from federal, state and local government sources, and/or non-public data from government, utility, or education sources. LexisNexis® may also use limited information from credit reporting bureaus, but no credit check is conducted and no inquiry of any kind is incurred. This process will take place when filing your claim.

IWD must be able to verify your identity to be paid unemployment insurance benefits. When filing an unemployment insurance claim, you will be asked to verify your identity. You will be provided the option to go through the online process to verify. If you decline this online verification process, you will be required to send in documentation for proof of identity prior to receiving any payments. The online verification process will take you through a series of questions which you will be required to answer. After completing those questions, if your identity was unable to be verified, you will be required to send in documentation for proof of identity. If your identity was verified, you will be able to continue through the claims filing process. A deadline will be set of when you will need to respond. That deadline is usually five business days from the date you filed your claim.

Your identity must be verified or your benefits may be delayed and your claim may be canceled.

Note: You must continue to file your weekly claim applications while your identity is verified.

Provide Proof of Identity

For proof of identity, you must provide a minimum of two items:

A copy of a government-issued identification document that includes your Social Security Number

EX: Social Security Card

If Social Security Card is not available, see "Approved Documents with SSN" below for instructions.

AND a copy of one of the following identity documents:

Identity Documents

Driver's License, a state issued ID, or Military ID

Driver’s license or ID card issued by a State or outlying possession of the U.S.

ID card issued by federal, state, or local government agencies or entities, provided it contains information

U.S. Military card or draft record

Active Duty, Retiree or Reservist military ID card (DD Form 2 or 2A)

Discharge papers (DD-214)

Military dependent’s ID card

U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Card

Native American tribal record

Learner Permit

Northern Mariana Card

American Department of Indian Affairs Tribal Card

Canadian Department of Indian Affairs issued ID card

Passport or Passport Card

U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport Card

Certificate of Naturalization

Must contain Document Number, USCIS/INS Registration Number

Foreign Passport​​​​

Must contain a Valid United States Visa or I-94 to be used as a primary proof of identification

Foreign passports, not issued in English, must be translated and accompanied by a Certificate of Accurate Translation

Must contain Document Name, Alien/USCIS Number, and Document Expiration Date, when available

Marriage License/Certificate

Original or certified copy

A copy of a document that is registered AFTER the marriage, not the license authorizing the union

Other Document Types

Vehicle Documents

Vehicle Registration or Title

Bill of Sale or purchase contract

IRS/state tax form

W2 Forms, Property tax receipts, etc.

School Records

Diploma or G.E.D

Financial Institution Documents

Account statement, loan document, etc.

Approved Documents with SSN **If social security card is not available. You can provide a document form this list. Additionally, you must provide 2 of the documents from the list above under "Identity Documents".

W-2 Form

SSA- 1099 Form

Non-SSA 1099 Form

Pay Stub with your name and Social Security Number on it

Social Security Administration documents establishing that you are ineligible for a Social Security Number

Your documents must not be expired.

Where to Send

You may submit the required documents online, by mail or in person. A copy or a photo will be accepted.

Submit Online

If you submit online, you can take a photo of the documentation and upload from your phone.

In Person
Go to your local IowaWORKS Center, a proud partner of the American Job Center network. Due to COVID-19, access to IowaWORKS Centers have be restricted. Customers should submit documentation online.